Description
Protein (GFAP), as a member of the cytoskeletal protein family, is the principal 8-9nm intermediate filament in mature astrocytes of the central nervous system (CNS). GFAP is a monomeric molecule with a molecular mass between 40 and 53kD and an isoelectric point between 5.7 and 5.8. GFAP is a highly brain-specific protein that is not found outside the CNS. Findings have shown that while GFAP is released into the blood very soon after traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on its severity, GFAP is not released after even multiple traumae in the absence of brain injury. In the CNS, following injury, either as a result of trauma, disease, genetic disorders, or chemical insult, astrocytes become reactive and respond in a typical manner, termed astrogliosis. Astrogliosis is characterized by the rapid synthesis of GFAP. GFAP normally increases with age and there is a wide variation in the collection and processing of human brain tissue. Thanks to its high brain specificity and early release from the CNS after TBI, GFAP might be a suitable marker for early diagnostics